Angie Craig: “Cable News Network announced this week that it would provide live television coverage of the Senate Governmental Affairs…”

“Cable News Network announced this week that it would provide live television coverage of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee hearings on campaign finance activities. But, Mr. President, their decision was based only on the fact that former Republican National Committee chairman, Haley Barbour, is scheduled to testify. CNN has been suspiciously absent in its live coverage of the hearings, only allowing its viewers to see the opening statements of the chairman and the ranking member during the past 2 weeks of the hearings. As I understand it, CNN based its decision to provide live coverage of Mr. Barbour's testimony on the judgment that he has celebrity status. Or, as CNN's own Washington Bureau chief, Frank Sesno, called them yesterday, ``major players''. That is a decision more fitting of the program ``Entertainment Tonight'', instead of a network which prides itself on being the world's leader of news. I am certain that I am not the only one disappointed by CNN's decision to forgo live coverage of the hearings.”